Bass Bridge Position

[Delwin D Fandrich]

It depends on which end of the bass bridge you're talking about.

Ideally you'd like the top end of the bass bridge to be as close to the bottom
end of the tenor bridge as is practical. And you'd like the bottom end of the
bass bridge to be as far away from the bottom end of the tenor bridge as
possible. None of this, of course, will you be able to do much about given the
layout of the typical overstrung scale. 

Personally, I tend to split the difference between backscale length and the
position of the bass bridge relative to the tenor bridge. If I have to make a
choice I'll lean in favor of the longer backscale. 

Another reason, by the way, for considering a transition bridge on the typical
6' grand. Especially when the bass/tenor break is placed down around notes
#20/#21.

| -----Original Message-----
| From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org 
| [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Love
| Sent: March 08, 2008 7:15 AM
| To: 'Pianotech List'
| Subject: Bass Bridge Position
| 
| When relocating the bass bridge on a grand, let's say 6' in 
| length, lengthening the backscale by moving the bridge in 
| toward the long bridge can reap some benefits.  However, is 
| there and optimum distance that the bass bridge should be 
| from the long bridge where a certain degree of separation 
| might also be a benefit?  When forced to compromise, which 
| one trumps the other and what, if any, might be the negative 
| effects of having the bass bridge too close to the long 
| bridge?  (In this case I'm talking about a piano without a 
| bass float.)  
| 
| David Love
| davidlovepianos at comcast.net
| www.davidlovepianos.com
| 
| 
| 
|